6min read
Anti bullying week 2024
This week marks the start of anti bullying week and we have lots of resources and helpful bullying advice to help you take a stand against bullying.
This week marks the start of anti bullying week and we have lots of resources and helpful bullying advice to help you take a stand against bullying.
6min read
Here we have gathered together all the essential information you need to set up a grandparent and toddler group including advice from grandparents on what works.
We suggest you print it out, and work down it, checking each item to see who can best do each task and what the next steps are.
If you decide there may be a need, still be cautious. At the start, have a drop-in session, to ask opinions about what grandparents would want from a group. Leave out a sheet asking if they would like to be contacted when a decision is made and how best to contact them.
Contact your local volunteer office and advertise on their website for volunteers to run the group. Make sure they are aware they will need a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check to do this as children are going to be part of the group. Try to get several volunteers so the group is always covered if someone goes on holiday. Volunteers can be recruited over a long period of time.
If you decide to go ahead, choose your time and day carefully, making sure it is a time that suits the group. Mornings historically appear to be best as toddlers are often tired by the afternoon.
Initially, decide on a neutral venue, until you get to know people. Be careful not to exclude people through your choice of venue (for example, a pub room might not feel right for religious purposes for some families).
Produce flyers and posters and distribute them everywhere!! Get them to doctors, health visitors, midwives, and social workers - anyone who comes into contact with families. Ask schools, libraries, local churches and others who produce newsletters to mention the group as often as possible.
Publicise via other groups orientated to possible grandparents. These could include gardening clubs, halls used by a range of people, Women’s Institute meetings, faith groups (churches, mosques, etc), estate agents, chip shops, newsagents. You could even canvas at a local pub where families go for Sunday lunch.
Attend partnership meetings or go to local schools and community centres to let everyone know about the group. Attend local fetes and open days to promote the group. Have a display of information that you can leave behind – even just a few home-made leaflets - if you can’t stay for the whole event.
REMEMBER: these groups can take a year or more to build membership before they 'take off'.
Word of mouth is key. However much publicity you send out, it’s usually one grandparent who introduces another.
This article was kindly provided by Grandparents' Association. The Grandparents’ Association has been working for children since 1987. It’s a member’s organisation and seeks to improve the lives of children by working with and for all grandparents, especially those denied contact; caring for their grandchild fulltime; or who have childcare responsibilities for their grandchildren; or are interested in the educational and welfare needs of their grandchildren.